Phytochemical characterization of seed extract of Amaranthus Hypochondriacus and its In Vitro antioxidant activity

Seed of Amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) plant, popularly known as ramdana, or chaulayi, is one of the commonly used food items in Indian culture since antiquity. The present study was undertaken to explore phytoconstituents and in vitro antioxidant potential of the hydroethnolic seed extract of Amaranthus hypochondriacus(HSAH). Phytochemical analysis was done by employing widely used standard methods.In vitro antioxidant activity was assessed in terms of IC₅₀ values of NO and DPPH radicals scavenging, reducing power activity and metal chelating property with Fe⁺². The phytochemical screening of the crude extract revealed the presence of alkaloid, flavonoids, carbohydrates, proteins, glycosides, oils, phenolic compounds, terpenoids, saponins and tannins whereas the coumarins, resins and steroid were absent in the extracts. The quantitative phytochemical analysis of HSAH revealed total phenolic and total flavonoid contents as 1.61±0.22 mg/gm and 0.41±0.11mg/gm, respectively. IC₅₀ values of NO and DPPH radicals scavenging, reducing power activity and metal chelating with Fe⁺² were found to be 69.76±2.80, 35.75±1.2, 10.09±1. 15 and 221.96±8.31 μg/ml, respectively, indicating antioxidant potential of HSAH. There was a strong relation between total phenolic and total flavonoid content and the antioxidant activity. It is concluded from this study that hydroethnolic seed extract of Amaranthus hypochondriacus (HSAH) is enriched with phenolics and flavonoids contents with excellent antioxidant potential.